Training camp for Redskins, Hoffman

With mini camps and organized team activities in the rear-view mirror, former Del Norte High and Brigham Young University standout wide receiver Cody Hoffman takes his first big steps toward hopefully securing a spot on the Washington Redskins roster today as Washington opens training camp in Richmond, Va.

During training camp, starting today and going until Aug. 12, the Redskins will practice every morning, with a walkthrough to follow each afternoon, according to the schedule posted at Redskins.com. Washington will also hold joint practices with the New England Patriots from Aug. 4–6 leading up to the first game of the preseason for both teams, at FedExField on Aug. 7.

While rookie mini camp and organized training activities provide coaching staff with their first look at new players, much of the time is spent getting players used to the team’s system and introducing them to the playbook.

Training camp is where the rubber meets the road. NFL teams are allowed to bring 90 players into training camp. Rosters will be cut down to 73 players before the final preseason game, and teams must have their final 53-man roster finalized prior to Week 1 of the regular season.

Most NFL teams keep five or six wide receivers on their 53-man roster for the season. There are currently 13 wide receivers on Washington’s 90-man roster.

Most experts expect starting receiver roles will be grabbed by Washington’s leading returning receiver Pierre Garcon, who gained 1,346 receiving yards for the Redskins in 2014, and prized free agent DeSean Jackson, who gained 1,332 yards through the air for the Philadelphia Eagles last year. Washington also acquired former Arizona Cardinals receiver Andre Roberts last year, and he is expected to be the team’s third receiver.

Working in Hoffman’s favor is his 6-foot-4-inch, 223-pound frame, making him by far Washington’s biggest target. No other receiver on the roster is taller than 6 feet 2 inches. Garcon is 6 feet, Jackson 5 feet 10 inches and Roberts is listed at 5 feet 11 inches.

Players left off the 53-man roster could still get a spot with the team on the practice squad. Practice squad players cannot play in the games, but they may have another opportunity to make the team in training camp in future years.